Russia's war on Ukraine. 23.08.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" on the Kharkiv direction, enemy forces attempted to storm Defense Forces positions twice near Vovchansk but were unsuccessful. Ukrainina Defense Forces conducted active operations to improve their tactical positions.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, the enemy launched 14 attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces units repelled 10 of these attacks near Stelmakhivka, Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Lozova, and Andriivka. The situation remains tense. On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian defenders 11 times in the areas of 8 different villages, with the most intense clashes occurring near Makiivka and Novosadove. On the Siversk direction, the enemy attempted to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions 5 times in the areas of Vyimka, Bilohorivka, and Spirne. All attacks were repelled. On the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 11 attempts by the invaders to advance, with the enemy focusing their efforts, supported by assault aviation, near Chasiv Yar and Ivanivske. On the Toretsk direction, the occupiers attacked Defense Forces positions 12 times near New York, Nelipivka, Toretsk, and Druzhba.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, the enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Pokrovsk direction, launching 53 attacks. More than half of the clashes occurred in the areas of Mykhailivka, Novohrodivka, and Mykolaivka. On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy remained quite active, with 19 attacks recorded. Battles continue near Karlivka, with the invaders attempting to advance near Kostyantynivka and Krasnohorivka. On the Vremivka direction, the aggressor launched 3 assaults on the front lines toward Vuhledar, attempting to advance from the direction of Volodymyrivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces firmly halted all enemy attacks.
General conclusion:
Gaining air superiority over Kursk Oblast requires the "Siversk" OTG to break through the battle formations of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army, which serves as the core of the enemy's air defense in the operational zone.
A counterattack by the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of Ukrainian Defense Forces thwarted the enemy's advance near Makiivka on the Kupyansk direction, reducing pressure on Ukrainian defenses in adjacent areas of the front.
The enemy's 98th Airborne Division does not maintain a significant long-term presence on the western bank of the "Siversky Donets-Donbas" canal; individual units temporarily cross to the western bank and then return to the eastern bank.
The enemy's advance forced "Tavriya" OSG units to withdraw from positions southeast of Pokrovsk. However, the enemy failed to encircle them in this area.
Russian forces have reduced the intensity of combat operations on the Hulyaipole, Orikhiv, and Prydniprovskiy directions.
"Tavriya" OSG conducted an organized withdrawal of its units, as indicated by the lack of rapid enemy tactical successes in the Pokrovsk area.
The halt of the offensive operation in northern Kharkiv Oblast is a necessary sacrifice to counter the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 135 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kursk Direction: Ukrainian Defense Forces units crossed the Seym River and are engaged in combat towards the village of Popovo-Lezhachi, which is effectively the northern outskirts of Tiotkino. They cut off the road to Karyzh, thereby isolating the town, and struck the Karyzh Bridge, though it remains partially operational. Two pontoon bridges established by the enemy near Rzhava and near Kobylki are under constant Ukrainian Defense Forces fire. The enemy heavily covers the bridges and crossings with electronic warfare (EW) systems. Southeast of Kekino, Ukrainian Defense Forces took control of Krasnooktyabrskoe and are advancing towards Komarovka and a garden community.
The enemy's defensive line runs along the Serpovka – garden community – 2nd Muzhitsa – Novoivanovka – Kulbaki – Sinyak – interstate border line, relying on the Sinyak River. The arrival of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet in the Glushkovo area has improved the enemy's tactical situation.
On the Korenevo direction, "Siversk" OSG units are fighting in Aleksandrovka, have captured two commanding heights in the Safonovka area, and are advancing deeper, having reached Kolychevka and the northeastern outskirts of Korenevo, thus taking the Korenevo-Rylsk road under fire control. The intensive use of FPV drones by the enemy is hindering further advancement.
The enemy is attacking southward from Yuzhnyi to regain positions on the commanding heights. Up to two companies of the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet are surrounded near Sheptukhovka.
South of Kromskiye Byki, OTG units control the entire stretch of road to Mala Loknya and several villages to the east of it. In the Bakhtinka area, up to a company of enemy troops has been isolated, and its encirclement is nearing completion.
"Siversk" OSG units have retreated from Cherkasskoe Porechie and entrenched in Novosotnitskiy, 2 km west of Bolshoye Soldatskoye.
The enemy's 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps is attempting to counterattack both north and south of this area, trying to unblock the Russian garrison in Rozgrel. Local skirmishes continue throughout the area, up to Biryukovka.
The highest concentration of Russian forces is positioned on the hills between Biryukovka and Vorozhba, launching counterattacks on Martynovka. Units of the 2nd Separate SOF Brigade have arrived in this area from the Zaporizhzhia direction and are conducting search-and-destroy and ambush operations against the logistics units of Ukrainian Defense Forces. Pushkarnoe and Russkaya Konopelka are under the control of "Siversk" OSG.
On the eastern direction, the enemy is trying to establish a defensive line along the northern side of Belitsa, along the Psel River, south through Giri to Peshanske and Ozerki, from which they are launching sporadic counterattacks.
On the Kharkiv direction, battles continued near Hlyboke, Lyptsi, and Vovchansk. Russian forces repelled a Ukrainian Defense Forces attack near Hlyboke.
The enemy command has deployed part of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet in the Hlyboke area and rotated unidentified units on the front lines near Buhruvatka.
On the Kupyansk direction, the 3rd Assault Brigade conducted a counterattack and advanced on the Svatove-Kreminna line, capturing an enemy battalion defense area. Russian forces advanced north near Pishchane, attacked in the Synkivka area, and near Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Stelmakhivka, Berestove, Lozova, and Andriivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked near Hrekivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Serhiivka, Novoserhiivka, Torske, Terny, and Dibrova.
On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces made minor advances in the eastern part of Bilohorivka and attacked near Spirne and Vyimka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces made minor advances on the northeastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, northwest of Klishchiivka, focusing their efforts on a 700-meter front in the Kalynivka area, where the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal runs underground. The enemy is attacking in infantry groups without armored support 5-6 times a day. Russian forces also continued attacks near Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced within the western part of Zalizne and in the center of Druzhba, attacked within Pivnichne, and attempted to reach the Toretsk-New York road, advancing near Nelipivka and Panteleimonivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces captured Ptyche and advanced further south of the village, capturing the rest of the eastern bank of the Karlivka Reservoir. The enemy's advance south and southwest of the T0511 Ocheretyne-Hrodivka highway straightened their frontline east and southeast of Pokrovsk, preventing the creation of conditions for the tactical encirclement of Ukrainian forces. The enemy attempted to advance west of the Karlivka Reservoir from Yasnobrodivka and Karlivka to encircle Ukrainian forces east of the Hrodivka-Novohrodivka-Selydove line but failed to achieve these objectives while simultaneously advancing towards Novohrodivka and Selydove from the T0511 highway.
Russian forces advanced to the eastern outskirts of Novohrodivka, to Kalynove from Ptyche, and continued their advance near Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Kalynove, Hrodivka, Myrolubivka, Novotroitske, Novohrodivka, Mykhailivka, Mykolaivka, Ptyche, and Komyshivka, capturing Mezhove. They then regrouped, reducing the number of assaults, and resumed attacks along the Karlivka-Pokrovsk road in the morning.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced north of Paraskoviivka and southeast of Vuhledar, cutting the O0532 Kostyantynivka-Vuhledar highway in two places. They attacked towards Kurakhove, near Pobieda, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar, and Vodyane.
On the Prydniprovskiy direction, the Ukrainian Navy struck ammunition and fuel depots on the Kinburn Spit.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
A missile strike by Ukrainian Defense Forces hit the railway ferry "Conro Trader" in the port of "Kavkaz," which was transporting 30 fuel tanks for the enemy's troop grouping. A fire is currently raging on board. The largest ferry on the route has been disabled.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army was deployed in Kursk Oblast.
The 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is engaged in battles in Zalizne, and the 17th Artillery Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is fighting near Ivanopillya.
Troops from the 68th Army Corps fight in Kostyantynivka.
The 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 18th Combined Arms Army is active on the Kherson direction.
The Russian military command has transferred the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division from Zaporizhzhia Oblast to Kursk Oblast. Units of this regiment have been spotted in Russkaya Konopelka (east of Sudzha).
To establish defenses in Kursk Oblast, units from the 17th and 18th Motorized Rifle Regiments, the 488th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division, the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army, the 31st Battalion of the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army, the 143rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army, the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army, the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps, the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps, the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, units of "Akhmat" formation, irregular formations such as the "Kulibin" detachment, the "Pyatnashka" brigade, the 3rd Reconnaissance and Assault Detachment "Oleg Mamiev" of the 60th Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade "Veterans," and the assault detachment "Otvazhnye" have arrived there.
Escalation indicators:
Escalation of combat intensity on the Pokrovsk direction. Deployment of enemy reserves in Kursk Oblast.
Possible operation situation developments:
The enemy will have to withdraw the units of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet from Kulbaki, as they are engaged in combat on the southern flank of the brigade and risk being cut off. It is expected that units of the 98th Airborne Division will be redeployed to the area south of the Seim River.
On the Kupyansk direction, in the operational zone of the 1st Tank Army, command of the enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping will attempt to reach the Oskil River in the Hlushkivka – Zahryzove sector, the Petropavlivka – Kurylivka line, and storm Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi railway junction. To bind the “Khortytsia" OSG forces, the enemy will exert frontal pressure on their positions in the Stepova Novoselivka area.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy will likely attempt to cut off the Pokrovsk–Kostyantynivka highway and prepare for an assault on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration.
The enemy's advance through Hrodivka on the Pokrovsk direction is likely to slow down as Russian forces begin fighting in an urban environment. It will be difficult for them to maintain their current pace of advance, particularly as they attempt to push further west towards Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk, as these cities are even more urbanized.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 23.08.24
Personnel - almost 605,330 (+1190);
Tanks 8,533 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles – 16,599 (+32);
Artillery systems – 17,307 (+45);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,167 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 932 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 23,329 (+49);
Aircraft - 367 (0);
Helicopters – 328 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 14,025 (+27);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,442 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
In the night of August 23, the enemy attacked Ukraine with two "Iskander-M"/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 16 Shahed-type attack drones. Ukrainian air defense successfully shot down 14 out of 16 "Shahed" drones.
In the past day, the enemy launched 252 attacks on Sumy Oblast, with a total of 42 towns and villages being shelled with various types of weapons. As a result of these attacks, two civilians were killed, and four others were injured.
On the night of August 23, Russian forces struck the village of Bohuslavka in the Borova community of the Izyum district with a guided aerial bomb. Rescue workers retrieved the bodies of a 61-year-old man and his 59-year-old wife from the rubble. A 78-year-old woman was also injured.
On August 23, Russian occupation forces shelled the town of Toretsk with artillery. A 63-year-old local man suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg. Additionally, Russians dropped an aerial bomb on Kurakhove, striking the central part of the settlement, injuring two women aged 22 and 61.
Around 17:30, Russian forces shelled Kherson with artillery. A 62-year-old woman was injured, suffering explosive and head injuries, as well as a concussion.
During the day on August 23, Russian forces targeted Nikopol with drones and artillery. Explosions damaged infrastructure, two private houses, a store, and a power line.
Later that day, Russian troops struck the center of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kharkiv Oblast, killing two people and injuring at least two others.
The 13th evacuation train from Donetsk Oblast arrived in Rivne Oblast. The region received a record number of displaced persons from Donetsk, totaling 257 people, including 45 children and three individuals with disabilities.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have destroyed or damaged 855 educational institutions in Donetsk Oblast.
The occupiers have established a new logistical route for exporting Ukrainian grain. Specifically, agricultural products are being transported by train from Luhansk region to the Caspian Sea and then further to Iran, according to the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.